Final answer:
Applying a tourniquet with excessive tension can cause damage to tissues, potentially leading to necrosis or compartment syndrome, and may make it difficult to achieve proper hemostasis. Tourniquets should be applied with correct tension to effectively control bleeding and minimize risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a tourniquet is applied with too much tension, it can lead to several negative outcomes. Excessive tension can cause damage to underlying tissues, including nerves, blood vessels, and muscles. This damage may result in tissue death, or necrosis, due to the lack of blood flow and oxygen to the area. In extreme cases, improper tourniquet use can lead to compartment syndrome, a serious condition where increased pressure within the muscles can impede blood flow and potentially result in permanent injury or the need for amputation.
Moreover, excessive tension makes it difficult to achieve hemostasis, the process of stopping bleeding, as it fully occludes blood flow, which is not always the desired effect. It is essential that tourniquets are applied correctly, with the right amount of tension, to minimize the risk of adverse effects while effectively controlling bleeding. In a medical emergency, however, tourniquets can be a lifesaving tool when used correctly. They are designed to temporarily restrict blood flow to a limb in the event of severe bleeding that cannot be controlled by direct pressure.